We go through life absorbing a lot of information.
We hear, see, feel, smell, ... We basically experience our surroundings through our senses.
One trail of thought I wanted to follow is how there are some ways to 'make a bridge' between the senses. How one could see sound, or hear view.
Some interesting things I found:
*) VTS: Vision Through Sound, would allow blind people to hear view... Small article about the subject:
The VTS project was established to enable the visually impaired or disabled to live a happier, more fulfilling life filled with experiences about the environment surrounding them.
VTS uses a mini ITX computer small enough to clip on a belt or keep in a handbag or pocket. It consists of a variety sensors, IR, laser, ultrasonic and visual, providing a 360° field of ”view”.
The main difference between the system and other solutions available is;
· Fully customizable
· As mobile as the user
· Relatively cheap compared to similar devices
· Can be mass produced within Canada
· Works in any environment
· 30hr + battery life and can be recharged in just under 2 hours
The device communicates through sound signals, but can be customized to communicate by words or by other means. The front sensor needs to be placed at eye level, by either clipping it on sunglasses or to a baseball cap. The two side sensors need to be placed at waist height for accurate readings. The sensors are wireless to allow 100% mobility.
The sensors weigh only 100 grams and the computer unit weighs with all batteries and equipment just under 350 grams and has similar dimensions to that of a modern cell phone.
The system can distinguish between different materials, like metal, concrete or people, which may be beneficial when getting used to a new living or working environment.
Other features; · Can sense difference in elevation (i.e. Curbs or sidewalks)
· Will indicate rough walking terrain
· Observes moving objects and calculates the possibility of a collision
· Can follow paintings on road, guiding the user in a straight line
· Will provide distinguished warning if a collision is evident if current track is maintained.
· Creates real-time 3D sound from all the surrounding objects
The system uses two earplug-sized headphones for communication allowing a near surround experience, while still allowing the user to hear all the noises surrounding them. The warning “alphabet” consists of 300 different signals, but was developed in such way that the user can get fully accustomed to in about a week’s time. VTS always runs in real-time, and takes just one minute to be fully operational once all the sensors are in place. It follows the head movements of the user, in a way as if fully functioning eyes were used, which means when the user turns his/her head in any direction, the signal changes while scanning objects in the particular direction.The system can also be taught particular objects by material and dimensions and guide the user to them once they’re in range. (i.e. remotes, keys, chairs, glasses etc…)
The technology was originally implemented for surveillance purposes to be used on mobile surveillance robots. Currently we are working on making the system more user friendly and more suitable for less technically inclined people, while improving functionality and practicality.
More information on the technology can be found on www.rotoconcept.com or detailed technical information is available by request.
Besides physically being able to see thanks to sound, the human mind itself registers certain sounds as images. That was what I referred to as Sound Trauma: the mind would associate specific scenes or images to a specific sound. This would mean that whenever that person would hear the sound the images will (subconsciously, sometimes) jump up in his mind. Basically that's what vision is: the way our brain interprets the images captured by our eyes (so yeah, I'm implying that even vision is relative and I guess colorblindness is a nice argument to strengthen my point). One example would be this particular tune.
Try listening to it without reading the title of the video. If you've seen the video this tune is associated with you might understand what I mean.
*) Another thing I've come across is the opposite: light bringing sound to deaf people.
Here's the article:
Scientists have accidentally discovered that infrared light can stimulate neurons in the inner ear like sound waves do. While trying to "weld" nerves with heat from a laser, surgeons found that the light could stimulate the ear nerves extremely precisely. A research team led by Claus-Peter Richter at Northwestern University in Chicago decided to explore this idea further.Laser light stimulation can target the nerves with high precision because the light doesn’t spread. On the other hand, electrical stimulation (the mechanism behind conventional hearing aids) cannot achieve such precise stimulation because tissue conducts electricity, causing electrical signals to spread and interfere with each other. Electrical hearing aids use about 20 electrodes to target nerves, and are good enough to allow deaf children to develop speech skills similar to those of hearing children. However, deaf people using the hearing aids can’t hear tonal variations as well, making it difficult for them to enjoy music or communicate in a noisy environment.
By increasing the number of points of stimulation, infrared lasers could be a step toward enabling deaf people to listen to music and complex sounds more fully.
The scientists don’t know exactly how light stimulates the neurons, but they think the accompanying heat may play a role. They plan to investigate the long-term effects of heating neurons in the near future.
So light might play an effect...
Another aspect that is quite interesting; do deaf people actually perceive sound in any way?
A couple of questions are raised. Here are a couple of subjects I found interesting in other forums/blogs:
When a person thinks they tend to think in their own voice. if you don’t have the ability to hear your own voice how would your mind perceive the thoughts that require a language.
Me and a good friend got into a creative discussion about this and could not come up with a legitimate answer.
Voice what you think.
*) From
Deaf Culture:
Terminology
The word "deaf"
The word
deaf is used differently in different contexts, and there is some controversy over its meaning and implications.
Scientific usage
In scientific and medical terms, deafness generally refers to a physical condition characterized by lack of sensitivity to
sound. Notated as
deaf with a lowercase
d, this refers to the audiological experience of someone who is partially or wholly lacking
hearing. In legal terms, deafness is defined by degree of hearing loss. These degrees include profound or total deafness (90 dB - 120 dB or more of hearing loss), severe (60 dB - 90 dB), moderate (30 dB - 60 dB), and mild deafness (10 dB - 30 dB of hearing loss). Both severe and moderate deafness can be referred to as partial deafness or as hard of hearing, while mild deafness is usually called hard of hearing.
Cultural usage
Within the Deaf community, the term
Deaf is often capitalized when written, and it refers to a
linguistic minority whose primary language is
signed, and who practice social and cultural norms which are distinct from those of the surrounding hearing community. This community does not automatically include all those who are clinically or legally deaf, nor does it exclude every hearing person. According to Baker and Padden, it includes any person or persons who "identifies him/herself as a member of the Deaf community, and other members accept that person as a part of the community."
Deaf vs. hard of hearing vs. hearing-impaired
Deaf generally implies a profound loss of hearing; someone with a partial loss of hearing is more likely to be referred to as
hard of hearing or the qualified
partially legally deaf. People with varying degrees of hearing loss have also been referred to as
hearing-impaired.
The term hard of hearing may be used to describe all degrees of hearing loss up to and including total deafness. It is more likely to be used by individuals who have lost their hearing as an adult, than by those who lose it as an infant or are born deaf. In the case of profound deafness this may be
political correctness, a
euphemism for the simpler and accurate "deaf." Interestingly, this is seen as a euphemism only from the side of the mainstream. The Deaf community does not generally aspire to be hearing and sees the hard of hearing label as an indication of a mindset that views them pathologically.
Total deafness is quite rare. Most deaf people can hear a little. However, since
hearing loss is generally frequency-based rather than amplitude-based, a deaf person's hearing may not be usable, if the normal frequencies of speech lie in the impaired range.
People with a moderate hearing loss, of about 36–50 dB,
generally describe themselves as "partially deaf." Others who were born hearing, but who have partially lost their hearing through illness or injury are "deafened." Those with a slight hearing loss (eg. about 16–35 dB hearing loss), or have lost some of their hearing in old age may prefer an informal term such as "hard of hearing" or "hearing-impaired".
Those with some functional hearing generally do not take part in the Deaf community, and typically work and socialize with hearing people to the best of their ability. People with all degrees of hearing impairment may encounter discrimination when looking for work, while at their jobs, or when socializing with hearing people.
Other meanings of 'deaf'
Deaf is also used as a
colloquialism to refer to a recalcitrant individual or someone unwilling to listen, obey or acknowledge an authority or partner. The third line of Shakespeare's
Sonnet 29 provides an example:
When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
The phrase "tone deaf" refers to someone who lacks
relative pitch, or the ability to distinguish between musical notes.
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To consider a lot of what I just posted now, deaf people do hear sound, the frequencies they translate it to are unusable though. It would be interesting to explore that idea further..
Maybe by linking imaging to 'deaf interpretation of sound' one could try and recreate the environment. This would of course probably apply only to one specific kind of deafness.
How about selective deafness? I mean, when walking down a street we subconsciously categorize the sounds surrounding us and shut out the ones we don't 'need'. The expression "I see/hear only you." comes to mind, as it is physically possible to do that.
